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According to
[コトバンク](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%97%97%E8%89%B2%E3%81%8C%E6%82%AA%E3%81%84-358738),
旗色が悪い can be used when there is some connotation of a battle, war or fight -
which makes sense because it literally translates to something like _the color
of the national flag is bad_.

Just wondering how natural it would sound in more general contexts of failure
or despondency. For example:

> 私の商売は、大損失で旗色が悪くなった。


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-10T16:27:23.997
74358
2020-02-11T05:32:27.167
36831
question
expressions phrases idioms
In what contexts can 旗色が悪い be used?


Here's the list of examples from BCCWJ.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EMBMB.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EMBMB.png)

We can see the idiom 旗色が悪い can be safely used in non-military contexts, but is
always used in the context of argument, debate, competition, or at least
comparison of two opposing ideas. It should not be used to describe simple
failures without competitors, rivals, enemies, etc.

I feel 私の商売は大損失で旗色が悪くなった on its own sounds a little unnatural because there is
no direct reference to comparison in this sentence. It should be okay if a
competitor has been mentioned in previous sentences. Something like
我が社はA社とのシェア競争において旗色が悪くなっている is fine on its own.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-11T01:26:41.530
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2020-02-11T01:34:23.283
2020-02-11T01:34:23.283
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answer


Now, let's check what 旗色｛旗色｝ be translated in English.

[**Weblio**](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%97%97%E8%89%B2) says,

> (wait to) see **which way** the cat jumps
>
> The odds are in his favor [ **against** him].

So, 旗色would imply which "side" might be a winner.

Therefore, your,

> 私の商売は、大損失で旗色が悪くなった。

misses a something, which is the very "opponent".

Imagine when you are in the battle which flag seems to be "decisive" to that
one.

Your business might might go under, but still the sentence lack the reference
to the competing sellers.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-11T05:32:27.167
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2020-02-11T05:32:27.167
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer